ICYMI: United Farm Workers Endorse Joe Biden

Today, United Farm Workers (UFW), the nation’s largest farm workers union, announced their endorsement of Joe Biden for President of the United States. United Farm Workers President Teresa Romero cited the need for: “leadership that respects the roles and contributions of all Americans and values those who feed us instead of the current leadership that seeks to lower farm worker wages and dehumanize them.”
 
"I am honored to have the support of the United Farm Workers,” said Vice President Joe Biden. “Today, farm workers are considered essential workers, yet too many families are being left behind, denied overtime pay or sick leave, or paid too little for jobs that we know feed our country and put food on our tables. I'm running for president to rebuild a stronger, more inclusive, and more resilient country — where workers are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, regardless of immigration status. Together, we can build back better. Si se puede." 
 
UFW issued the following press release:
 

 
United Farm Workers President Teresa Romero issued the following statement from the union’s Keene, Calif. headquarters in announcing the UFW’s endorsement of former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.:
 
The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling temporarily blocking Donald Trump’s elimination of DACA reminds us of a simple reality: The Obama-Biden administration created DACA to protect Dreamers. The Trump administration rescinded DACA. Trump vows to crack down on Dreamers again. Now, a Biden presidency can get a law passed permanently protecting Dreamers.
 
A Biden presidency can pass a law providing an accelerated pathway to legal status for farm workers whose skills and hard work feed America. A Biden presidency can ensure future agricultural worker programs honor farm workers currently in the U.S. and do not doom future Americans to permanent second-class legal status. As president, Biden would expand long overdue rights for farm workers. This includes working with Congress to pass the Fairness for Farm Workers Act to extend overtime pay to farm workers so they are paid fairly for the long hours they work. He believes that no one should get sick, injured or die just because they went to work, and he will work to keep all farm workers safe. And he will ensure that farm workers exposed to COVID-19 will be provided with paid leave and lift the 90-day waiting period for new farm workers to be eligible for sick pay.
 
We need leadership that respects the roles and contributions of all Americans and values those who feed us instead of the current leadership that seeks to lower farm worker wages and dehumanize them.
 
Elections matter. There are 132 days before the next election. The UFW will spend every one of those days making sure people vote. We invite everyone who appreciates that farm workers put the food on America’s tables to join our effort to elect new leadership for the nation.
 
Note: UFW members who voted to endorse Joe Biden as well as farm workers from key swing states such as Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Texas and Florida who join the UFW in enthusiastically supporting Biden will be available for interviews upon request.
 
National unions representing a range of other workers and professions have also endorsed Biden, including AFL-CIO, American Postal Workers Union (APWU), the United Steelworkers Union (USW), Transport Workers Union (TWU), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), United Auto Workers (UAW), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), National Education Association (NEA), International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), International Association of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers (IW), Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Operative Plasterers’ & Cement Masons’ International Association (OPCMIA), and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA).

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